German firm plans takeaway project in the UK

By Hayley Brown

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Dr oetker

German food manufacturer Dr Oetker has confirmed that it is “currently looking at a huge takeaway project” in the UK, after taking over...

German food manufacturer Dr Oetker has confirmed that it is “currently looking at a huge takeaway project” in the UK, after taking over Schwan’s Chicago Town frozen-food brand and Schwan’s pizza production plant in Leyland, Lancashire.

It is thought that the “project” will include an expansion of the Leyland factory, increasing the number of workers and moving to a seven-day working week. Dr Oetker is also rumoured to be considering moving a product line from its takeaway manufacturing facility in Germany to Lancashire.
A spokeswoman from the firm refused to comment on details of the project, “just in case things didn’t work out exactly to plan”. She added: “We are still at the early planning stages, but we will be making an announcement in due course.”
Speculation over the future of the Leyland site comes after Dr Oetker acquired Schwan’s businesses in 15 European countries, the Chicago Town trademark, and licences for the Freschetta and Tony’s trademarks in December. It said that it would integrate the UK pizza plant into its UK division.
Peter Franks, UK md of Dr Oetker’s frozen and chilled businesses, said that the acquisition gave the company a UK production base. He added: “Dr. Oetker is committed to driving category growth in frozen pizza through continual innovation and investment in our brands.”

Dr Oetker’s flagship brand Pizza Ristorante is growing at 13% year on year, it said. Internationally, Dr Oetker operates and produces in over 40 countries worldwide across a wide range of foodstuffs, on frozen, chilled and ambient.

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